GAMBIER, Ohio – Kenyon College came into Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference men's lacrosse opener against Ohio Wesleyan University (4-5, 1-0 NCAC) with hopes of its first win in the series since 2012. By game's end, though, the Battling Bishops had left McBride Field with a 17-7 win.
 
In the first half alone, Ohio Wesleyan's offense scored 10 of the 11 goals. Defensively, keeper Joey Sichenzia posted a save percentage above 83 percent and denied seven Lords shots. 
 
The visitors opened the contest with a 4-0 lead after Steven Hildebrand fed Cole Jamieson at the 6:55 mark. Joe Woody then stopped the OWU stretch just 41 seconds later as he tallied his eleventh goal of the season.
 
Kenyon (5-4, 0-1 NCAC) added a few more shots from Reed Russell, Will Harrigan and Nick Vitale, but by the end of the quarter, found itself down 5-1.
 
Second-quarter action belonged entirely to the visitors as they ran their lead to 10-1. Tennant scored three times while Hildebrand added two helpers. The Lords didn't go without a few opportunities, however, Sichenzia saved four of their shots while another from Patrick Coughlin hit the post.
 
After the break, the Lords did outscore OWU 3-1 as Sam Humphrey scored twice, including one on a man-up opportunity from Vitale at 13:32. Kenyon's third goal of the stanza, this one from Sam Hatfield, pulled the home squad to within seven, 11-4, but the Lords could not get any closer.
 
In the final period, Ohio Wesleyan denied any chance of a Lords comeback by scoring six times which included a pair from Tennant and Jamieson.
 
Humphrey led Kenyon with three goals while Vitale assisted on four others. Russell performed admirably in the face-off circle, winning 18-of-23 while snagging 13 ground balls.
 
Kenyon will return to competition on March 30 at Wittenberg University.